synthesis / analysis techniqUe 80StakeholderMaps Stakeholder maps help to visually consolidate and communicate the key constituents of a design project, setting the stage for user- centered research and design development. Asthedesignprocessbegins,intheplanning,scoping,anddefinitionphase,itisparticularlycritical toidentifywhoallthekeyconstituentsarethatmighthaveastakeindesignoutcomes.Stakeholder mapsservethispurpose,asavisualreferencepointforthedesignteaminplanningforuser researchactivities,andguidingappropriatecommunicationwithstakeholdersthroughouttheproj- ectdevelopmentprocess. Stakeholdermapsareoftenfirstcreatedspeculatively,withtheteambrainstorminganyandall peoplewhomayhaveavestedinterestinthedesignterritorydefiningtheproject.Atthispointitis importanttobeexhaustive.Aswellasidentifyingendusers,itiscriticaltoincludepeoplewhowill benefitfromtheproject,thosewhoholdpower,thosewhomaybeadverselyaffected,andeven thosewhomaythwartorsabotagedesignedoutcomesorservices. Stakeholderscanbeidentifiedbygeneralroles(students,deliverydrivers,nurses),specificroles (CEO,projectmanager,chiefofsurgery),orbyactualpeople(Robert,officemanager;Linda, residentphysician).Theinitialprocesscanbesimplydoneasrolespostedonawhiteboard,cards, notesorpaper,andconsolidatedasalistorsketch.Thesketchthenevolvesintoamoreorganized structure,definingpossiblehierarchies,andkeyrelationshipsbetweenrolesorpeople.Theserela-